Carman's Kitchen appoints new marketing and innovation leader

Australian FMCG brand, Carman’s Kitchen, has brought on a new marketing and innovation leader to drive its next phase of growth.  

Zoey Saunders has joined the business from this week as general manager of marketing and innovation, reporting directly to Carman’s founder and CEO, Carolyn Creswell. The role encompasses brand, campaign and product responsibility.  

She boasts of more than 20 years’ FMCG experience across a raft of iconic Australian brands including King Island Dairy and Mersey Valley. Saunders spent the last nearly four years working on specialty cheese at Lion Dairy and Drinks, moving across to Saputo after it acquired the business.  

Credit: Carman's

Prior to this, Saunders’ resume includes category development and customer category roles at Carlton & United Breweries, as well as brand development and management positions across Fonterra’s yoghurt and dairy dessert product lines.    

A Carman’s spokesperson told CMO Saunders will be focused on continuing the 30-year Carman’s story, with focus on setting up the brand for more success in the long-term with a strong innovation pipeline. Continuing to strengthen the brands positioning in market is also a key priority. Saunders replaces Sue Yates, who left in August after more than seven years with the company. 

“Carman’s is an incredible brand and inspirational story. Still Australian made and owned, the Carman’s brand delights its consumers everyday with delicious, real food,” Saunders said. “It’s seen phenomenal growth over the last three decades and I’m looking forward to working with Carolyn and the team on taking this Australian success story through its next phase of growth.”     

Saunders pointed to continuing to prioritise Carman’s quality product credentials and hinted at many more delicious products to come.  

“We also want to ensure that all Aussies know and love the Carman’s brand as much as we do so we’ll be working on how we can share the Carman’s family brand story,” she said.    

Carman’s was established in 1992 initially with a muesli product offering. It gained its first footing in major retail in 1997. Since then, it’s grown to incorporate a range of cereal and snacking products and is now exported to 32 countries.  

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